Is a Postbac a Game Changer?

What do you do if you had a great time in college, majored in Medieval Folklore, played on the volleyball team, and then you wake up after graduation to realize you want to go to medical school? First take a deep breath. Then start looking into postbaccalaureate (postbac) programs.

A recent article in US News (“An Expensive, Alternative Route to Medical School”) assesses the options for someone who knows they want to be a doctor, but doesn’t have the right prerequisites or grades to get into medical school. Although a masters degrees in science or public health will help your chances, it will cost a bundle and take you years.

A postbac is by far your best option.

The major downside of a postbac is that although it is cheaper than a masters, it will still make a dent in your savings. Tuition for programs could cost upwards of $30,000.

Whether or not the postbac program is worth your time and money will depend on which program you choose. Suzanne Miller, a medical school admissions consultant and author of The Medical School Admissions Guide, explains, “these programs vary pretty widely in their quality.”

So when picking your postbac program make sure it is well-regarded, at a good school that is linked to many medical schools, and has a strong advising system. The top postbacs should also include one-on-one meetings with advisers and MCAT prep courses.